Call to make History a part of various disciplines

Updated on: Monday, February 06, 2012

Universities should introduce flexibility in the system so that History can be made part of various disciplines, Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology G. Viswanathan said here on Friday.

Addressing the 32 annual conference of the South Indian History Congress, hosted by the Department of Indian History, University of Madras, he said that under the current pattern of education, a student of engineering was deprived of the opportunity to study History. Students should be permitted to study History irrespective of the discipline they choose because “it is imperative to know History to avoid pitfalls (in life) and that helps you take corrective measures,” he said.

Mr. Viswanathan admitted that History was not a popular course because it was unable to get placement. “But, it is a must (in one's education) because it gives you your life and culture.”

Referring to various facets of history, he said economically India and China were so strong that they had been contributing almost 50 per cent of the GDP of the world once upon a time. Once India came under the foreign yoke, it was emasculated and now more than 60 per cent of the Indians were below poverty line.

Adverting to social history, he said the caste system was there since time immemorial in India. Even Tiruvalluvar mentions it. While Ambedkar and E.V. Ramasami Naicker opposed caste system they wanted reservation for socially-deprived sections.

T.S. Sridhar, Secretary, Higher Education, wanted the conference to highlight the unique features of the south Indian history like the growth of philosophy —Dwaitha, Adwaitha and Vishishtadwaitha, bhakthi movement and its influence on North India, maritime history, etc.

Expressing happiness over the research and development activities and also the support extended to the research fellows, he pleaded that the research data be made “more easily accessible” to scholars. “Secondary data is not readily available for research.”

G. Thiruvasagam, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras, said: “History gives knowledge. It helps one understand why things have happened so and how it might pan out.” History could teach one what should be avoided.

Chennai Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy, inaugurating the conference, said that the history of south India was “rich and unparalleled.”

Call to make History a part of various disciplines

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